A massive crowd of mostly barefoot Filipino Catholics joined a raucous procession of a centuries-old life-size statue of Jesus Christ under extra-tight security.
Philippines
Posted inFaith, Faith in Focus
Can’t wait till the 25th? For Filipinos celebrating Simbang Gabi, Christmas comes early.
Simbang Gabi speaks to the central place that Christmas holds in the Filipino imagination.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Philippine Congress extends martial law in southern Philippines
Martial law in the southern Philippine region of Mindanao, originally aimed at quelling a terrorist attack in Marawi in May, has been extended for another year.
Posted inFaith, News
Philippines says government militia killed Italian priest
The attack may have been carried out with the knowledge of two army commanders, a justice official said.
Posted inFaith, News
Philippine Christian leaders join to help rebuild Muslim-majority city
The city was damaged by five months of occupation by terrorists.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Cardinal Tagle asks Philippine Catholic churches to ring bells to remember drug-war deaths
“We cannot allow the destruction of lives to become normal. We cannot govern the nation by killing. We cannot foster a humane and decent Filipino culture by killing.”
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Philippine nun works to help users avoid death in drug war
Depending on who is counting, the anti-drug war in the Philippines has claimed from 2,000 to more than 7,000 lives, both in police operations and vigilante-style or extrajudicial killings.
Posted inFaith, News
Martyrdom ‘not remote possibility’ for Southern Philippines Catholics, priest says
The Vatican earlier posed no objection to the beatification process of Father Palliola, who established Christian settlements in the western part of Mindanao among the Subanon tribe.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Philippines leaders ask social media to remove video of Catholic church icons being smashed
Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, the military spokesman, also urged netizens not to share the video, which shows militants ripping a picture of Pope Francis, toppling a crucifix, and stomping on and torching religious statues.
Posted inNews, Politics & Society
Philippines poised to reinstate death penalty
The Philippines may reinstate the death penalty after it was put on hold 11 years ago.